Sheriff’s detectives are investigating a hoax call of a murder at a Beach Park home – called “swatting” – that prompted a heavy police response overnight on Friday.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Park Fire Department responded around 12:50 a.m. Friday to the 38100 block of North Loyola Avenue in Beach Park.
A male called the Lake County sheriff’s non-emergency dispatch line and claimed he had just killed his mother inside his home, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said.
At least seven sheriff’s deputies, along with fire/rescue personnel and a sheriff’s K-9, responded to the address.
Deputies “began recognizing indications it could be a ‘swatting’ type call,” Covelli said.
“Some of these indications were that none of the cars in the driveway matched the name of the caller, or anyone he mentioned, the caller was calling from a non-standard U.S. area code, and the words used by the caller,” Covelli added.
Deputies attempted several times to make contact with the residents of the home.
“This is the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Residents of [address] – you are not in trouble. We need to make sure everybody inside is okay. Please come out with your hands up with nothing in your hands. If you do not wish to come out, please call 9-1-1,” a deputy was heard stating on his squad car’s loudspeaker.
Deputies also knocked on the home’s doors and windows in an attempt to make contact with the residents.
Covelli said the residents were sleeping at the time.
A resident answered the door at 1:44 a.m. and deputies entered the home, according to a Lake & McHenry County Scanner reporter at the scene.
Deputies verified the call was a swatting.
“It’s unknown why this family was targeted, but a criminal investigation is underway,” Covelli said.
Friday’s incident is not the first time a home in Beach Park was “swatted.”
In February 2024, deputies responded to a residence off West 33rd Street in Beach Park after receiving a report of a child who was shot.
Deputies determined the call was a hoax believed to have originated from someone playing an online Call of Duty video game.